HIGHLIGHTS: UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball

MANILA, Philippines – The first round of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament wraps up with a blockbuster main event on Wednesday, March 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

NU (5-1) vs La Salle (6-0)

UAAP | WATCH:

La Salle stars Mars Alba, Angel Canino, and Fifi Sharma share their thoughts after blowing out NU.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/7ZAryWxFnr
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | WATCH:

NU head coach Karl Dimaculangan and MVP Bella Belen share their thoughts after a shocking blowout loss to La Salle to end a shaky first round.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/0NIVHSZGRh
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | STATS:

Kapitana Mars Alba and super rookie Angel Canino lead La Salle’s all-around whipping of defending champion NU!#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/2hak48D9Di
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | FINAL:

The La Salle Lady Spikers (7-0) sweep the first round off a shocking burial of the NU Lady Bulldogs (5-2), 25-10, 25-15, 25-21!#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/EGR2Gs75Sv
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 3:

La Salle takes a small 16-15 lead at the 2nd TTO over NU!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 3:

Sharma off-speed hit is in as La Salle edges NU at the 1st TTO, 8-7!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 2:

NU's destruction continues as La Salle rolls to a two-set lead with a 25-15 rout!

The Lady Bulldogs gave up 10 errors while the Lady Spikers only had 1.#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Erin Pangilinan service error.

La Salle cruises to the 2nd TTO with a 16-8 lead over NU!

The Lady Bulldogs already have 6 errors in the set, while the Lady Spikers have none yet.#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 2:

Back-to-back Sharma quick attacks send La Salle to the 1st TTO with an 8-3 gap over NU!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 1:

La Salle annihilates NU with two separate 8-0 runs for a 25-10 finish!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 1:

Canino with another crosscourt kill!

Timeout NU as La Salle still leads by 9, 19-10!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | SET 1:

Leila Cruz blocks Cess Robles!

La Salle 8-0 run over NU for a 9-3 lead!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | WATCH:

NU's title-winning core warms up for its finals rematch against retooled La Salle.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/yc2K3pfS98
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

For the first time since last year’s finals, the defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs wages a new war against the retooled and undefeated La Salle Lady Spikers at 2 pm.

Apart from a historic loss to UST a few games back, NU has still been every bit of the powerhouse that swept the previous season with the likes of Alyssa Solomon, Cess Robles, and refocused leaders Bella Belen and Jen Nierva.

La Salle, however, is a totally different animal today with super rookie Angel Canino quickly rising as the top offensive option, while defensive stalwarts like Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma round out the Lady Spikers’ lethal all-around play.

Adamson (4-2) vs UP (1-5)

UAAP | WATCH:

Adamson head coach Jerry Yee and Kate Santiago share their thoughts after a stellar first-round run.#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/nPpCMuyKKS
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | FINAL:

The Adamson Lady Falcons (5-2) make quick work of the UP Fighting Maroons (1-6), 25-18, 25-17, 25-23, to end a stellar first round run!#UAAPSeason85 pic.twitter.com/EhZ84ekoEe
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

UAAP | END OF SET 2:

Adamson continues its blowout of UP for the two-set lead, 25-17!#UAAPSeason85
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) March 22, 2023

The day’s double-header kicks off with an intriguing 12 pm match between the favored Adamson Lady Falcons and the reeling UP Fighting Maroons.

Coming off a loss against an unbeaten La Salle side, Adamson seeks a quick bounce-back effort under the leadership of veteran setter Louie Romero and super rookie Trisha Tubu, with support from the likes of Lucille Almonte and Kate Santiago.

UP, meanwhile, continues searching for answers and may just find one with an upset win amid another spiraling season. Standouts like Steph Bustrillo, Aly Bertolano, and Niña Ytang will be tasked to lead the Maroons’ rally anew.